Finding a career that suits your interests, lifestyle and income requirements can be a challenge. For some people, the idea of working from home sounds beyond perfect, with the opportunity to wear pajama pants all day and surf the internet. However, working on freelance writing gigs from home come with their fair share of downsides as well. Before you make the leap and quit your day job, here are a few things to consider to know if freelance writing is right for you.
Are you meant to freelance?
Self-Employment
While self-employment may be the American dream for many people, for others it can have significant downsides. You are no longer going to have company insurance benefits or sick and vacation pay. For many people working from home, they develop multiple income streams, some of which are passive, but you will mostly only be paid for the time you put in.
Motivation, Determination, and Procrastination
The first question to ask yourself about working from home is how much of a self-starter are you? Are you able to be motivated to get up early, start working and stay focused? Doing online research can be incredibly distracting and you will need to have the willpower to stay on task. You may not be making hourly money, so getting projects done will be critical for your financial health.
Another question to consider is how prone you are to procrastination. For people who find deadlines stifling, choosing your own deadlines with freelance can be a liberating experience. However, if you find yourself unable to commit to working without a deadline hanging over your head, you may not be successful. Be cautious about what kind of freelance jobs you pursue and whether they are suited to your personality type.
Along with self-motivation comes your determination in the face of adversity. Freelance writing can be difficult in that you are not guaranteed work and may be turned down for jobs that you feel qualified for. Pursuing forums and online job postings on a daily basis is critical to your success in this field. You will have to seek out new opportunities on a daily basis to keep yourself employed.
Creativity
Are you an inspired person? Do ideas flow from you without any provocation? These traits will be highly valued and necessary when doing freelance work. You will need to enjoy writing and have a love of the written word to be successful. Coming up with endless, unique topics will be necessary as you strive for original content week after week.
Loneliness
Are you a people person? Many successful internet tycoons are socially awkward, introverted types who adore the option to make millions from the comfort of their home. However, if you find yourself getting lonely or depressed after a day without human interaction, freelance writing may not be for you. Staying at home for long periods and remaining focused and driven can be difficult but is critical to your success as a freelance writer.
Income Stability
One exceedingly important thing to consider before going freelance is how much income you need to live. Make a budget to determine exactly what the dollar amount is for you to maintain your lifestyle. Will you have to make significant cutbacks when freelancing? Will you be able to stay afloat in months when the work is not as abundant? Make sure you will have backup plans for funding your groceries in times when work is not as plentiful.
Freelance writers become their own accountants, as well. This means you will need to figure out your own taxes at the end of the year and pay them to the IRS. No more spending all of your pay, or you will end up with a significant bill come April.
Conclusion
If you’re considering going freelance full-time or you’re already there but only starting out, do go through the points above carefully and think things through.
Good luck!
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